When I first listened to Joe Louis, I heard the sound of all my favorite British rock guitarists. Beck, Bender, Bolan, Ronson, and Kossoff. Joe had the guitar slinging tone of the guys that were in my blood, but here in the USA he was winning Grammy awards for being one of the best blues artists.
I had to find out more about this guy and where this feel was coming from. When we met, we spent hours talking about the greatest recorded guitars of all-time, and both agreed we had the same respect for Bukka White and Jimmy Reed as we did for Terry Kath’s unrepeatable solo in 25 or 6 to 4. When we both mentioned Luther Grosvenor and his Alter Ego Ariel from MOTT The Hoople, I knew I found my kindred spirit in the guitar world.
Joe had built an incredible, awarded, gold history as a blues great with names such as Buddy Guy, BB King, SRV, Hendrix and more.
I just had to offer to build him the guitar that I know would have enhanced the tone of those British legends.